"I am honored with the appointment as President of the European Union Military Committee and I thank all the Chiefs of Staff of the Defense of the Union countries for the trust that has been given to me. I wish to express my gratitude to the government, and in particular to the Minister of Defense, Senator Roberta Pinotti, for the full support of my candidacy. To the current Chairman, General Mikhail Kostarakos, I extend a warm thanks for the extraordinary work done. Waiting to take up the task, I want to emphasize that I will continue to absolve, with absolute dedication and great pride, the duties of Chief of Staff of the defense in the service of the country and confirm my admiration for all Italian soldiers who daily in Patria and abroad, they work with great courage and self-denial. I can only anticipate that, once in office, I will commit myself to the maximum of my ability to further strengthen the authority of the Military Committee, to actively contribute to the project of realization of the European Defense and to ensure that the European Union is fully capable of respond to 360º to new security challenges".
This is the first statement by General Graziano, newly elected president of the Military Committee of the European Union (chairman of the European Union Military Committee - CEUMC) from the 27 chiefs of the defense of the member countries of the European Union, meeting yesterday in Brussels. The three-year assignment will be held from November 2018, when General Graziano will succeed the current president, General Mikhail Kostarakos, in charge of the 6 November 2015.
The president of the Military Committee is the highest military authority in the EU and, as such, is the military adviser of the High Representative for the Union's foreign and security policy, but also has the task of presenting the opinions and decisions of military nature, taken by the Military Committee, at the Political and Security Committee (PSC), as well as to provide directives and guidelines to the Director General of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS).
The Military Committee was established, by decision of the Council of the European Union, the 22 January 2001, with the task of directing all military activities within the framework of the EU, with particular reference to the planning and execution of military missions. Italy had already obtained the leadership of the high assembly with General Rolando Mosca Moschini, who was in charge since April 2004 in November 2006.
Today's appointment, in addition to confirming the clear professionalism of General Graziano and the esteem he enjoys internationally, is also a precious confirmation of how much appreciated the commitment of the Italian armed forces in the world.
The Italian military guarantees a fundamental contribution for the European Union, not only in terms of numerical participation, but also for the professional quality demonstrated in decades of participation in EU operations. Likewise, the appointment of General Graziano is also a recognition of the political-strategic role played by our country, which deeply believes in the need for the creation of a European defense system.
